RD274 - Report on House Bill 1559 (2011) Proposed Exemption of Audiologists from the Hearing Aid Specialist Examination

  • Published: 2011
  • Author: Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
  • Enabling Authority: Letter request from the Senate Committee on Education and Health

Executive Summary:
Del. Edward T. Scott introduced House Bill 1559 (2011) at the request of a constituent, dually licensed as an Audiologist and Hearing Aid Specialist, who serves as Vice President of Audiology for the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia (“SHAV”). In September 2000, the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists moved to exempt Virginia licensed audiologists from two (2) of the four (4) parts of the required practical examination. (Appendix A, pg. 4) Specifically, audiologists are not required to take the audiometric testing section or the speech audiometry section. They are, however, required to take the earmold impressions section, as well as the maintenance of hearing aids section. House Bill 1559 (2011) would exempt Virginia licensed audiologists, who hold a doctoral degree in audiology, from all of the current examination requirements, which consist of both a written and practical examination, in order to obtain a Virginia Hearing Aid Specialist license. (Appendix B)

In a letter dated March 4, 2011, pursuant to Rule 20(1) of the Rules of the Senate of Virginia, the subject matter contained in House Bill 1559 (2011) was referred by the Senate Committee on Education and Health to the Department of Health Professions and the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation for study. (Appendix C)